All 44 Surviving Oriire School Hostages Rescued in Multi-Agency Operation

In the evening of Friday, July 10 — 56 days after the May 15 mass abduction — a combined force of the Nigerian Army, Navy Special Forces, Special Boat Service, Air Force special forces, Police special force, and the Department of State Services executed an intelligence-led rescue operation that freed the remaining 44 hostages (37 pupils and 7 teachers) taken from three schools in Oriire LGA, Oyo State. The Army described the release as 'unconditional,' with no ransom or prisoner exchange conceded to the kidnappers despite their earlier demand for the release of a detained gang leader, who remains in custody facing prosecution. Eight members of the kidnapping gang were arrested and handed to the DSS. Of the original 46 abducted, one teacher was killed on the spot during the raid and a second, Michael Oyedokun, was killed in captivity, leaving 44 to be rescued. The resolution ends a crisis that triggered a month-long Nigeria Union of Teachers strike and protests across Oyo and Osun states.